Heater.



W. E. SHARP.

HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 18, 1911.

Patented Ja11.2, 1912.

Il" mmm i arrested, a coupling member being in con-v WILLIAM E. SHARP,0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OFAONE-HLF TO GEORGE L ROBBINS, 0FHINSDALE, ILLINOIS.

HEATER.

This invention relates to certain improve-.- ments 1n heaters in whichthe heating agent is a liquid capable of being vaporized, the

vaporl being generated by heat, so that the volatile element' orelements of the liquid pass `to the burner in ther form of a gas. Manyliquids are capable ofv bein volatilized by heat, and while myinvent-ion is applicable to liquid hydro-carbons generally, 1t is`particularly designed 'to use denatured alcohol as the fuel agent, andin' some instances gases. l Y

My invention. relates more particularly to means for automaticallycontrollingthe supply of liquid and gaseous fuel, and the specificembodiment in which` I have chosen to illustrate my invention in theaccompanying drawings comprises a liquid supply pipe, a'

va orizin'g conduit,v` to which the liquid fuell is delivered, adistributing -rod or core within the conduit, a valve arranged in thecoupling between the supply pipe and a volatilizing expansion tubeforming a portion of the conduit and controlled by the expansion of suchtube, the liquid fuel being delivered into the conduit in which thevaporization is completed and all particles. of carbon nection with saidconduit and having a jet orifice arranged in line with amixing tubeinwhich the gas is mixed with air, and a burner to which the gas isdelivered. Such burner has tips or jets so located as to heat thevaporizing members, thegvalve being located outside of the zone of heatand oper-V ated by thev expansion of the heat'ed vaporiz'- ing/tube.Incldental to these features above, Iv provide in the combinedcarbon-arrester and secondary vaporizing chamber frag-l ments ofmaterial, such as shot, preferably loose, which check and collect vallparticles of carbon coming over with the gas from Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application led February 18, 1911.

rammed aan. a, rara Serial No. 609,455;

the vaporizing expansion tube and by their movement prevent caking. Ialso provide a priming pan to contain a sufficient quantity of fuel topreliminarily heat the parts, this being rendered necessary by thefactthvat burners nconsuming liquid fuel, such for eX- ample as alcohol,require an initial heating in order to produce the vaporization orvolatilization of the liquid constituting the heating agent. i I alsoprovide various necessary or desirable means for adjusting the parts. v

In burners of this kind it has been usual to pass the liquid fuel into afeed tube so placed as to be heated bythe combustion at the burner,whereby the liquid passing through such ltube is volatilized orconverted into a' gas, and to-'place centrally within such tube adistributing core or member so that the liquid is reduced to arelatively thin If the space between the core and tube is made smallenough to limit `the quantity of passlng liquid so as to supply theburner other words, to constitute in and of itself a regulator of thefuel supply, it must be made so small that it is likely to becomeclogged or choked with a deposit of carbon and to interfere with theuniformity ofthe supply', if not cut it oif completely.v On the otherhand, if the space or passage'is made large enough to avoid thisdiiiiculty, then an excessive quantity of the liquid will be sup pliedand vaporized, thus creatinga gaseous will extinguish the flames of theburner. In other words,y the pressure is likely to fluctuatesufficiently to temporarily cut y off the supply of gas to the burner,thereby are serious, particularly when the burners are used to heatrailway cars, warehouses', or the like, for the preservation ofperishable commodities such as -fruits and 'vegetables," because thevalue and-eiiiciency of the device depends `almost wholly upon itslnr'denite and uninterrupted operation wlthout attention` with a normalamount of Yfuel only, or inV extinguishingthe flames. These diiiiculties`Olne-of theI leading `objects of my inven# body surrounding the coreand in contact with the inner surface of the heating tube.

pressure suiicient to produce a react-ion which f tion is, therefore, toproduce a device of this character which shall operate indefinitelyunder automatic control.

Another object of the invention is to afford an automatically governedburner which, after being properly adjusted by the manufacturer, ispractically proof against derangement by inexperienced persons; and tothat end my apparatus is so constructed as to make its controlling partspractically inaccessible without dismembering the apparatus itself. A

Other features of vnovelty and improvement will be pointed out inconnection with the following detailed description of the apparatus andin the claims.

In the drawings 'Figure 1 is a plan view of. a burner and itsaccessories embodying this invention; Fig.I 2 is a longitudinal,

central, vertical, sectional View on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is across section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

The burner 32 is in the form of a hollow, annular body having aplurality of upstanding burner tips 33, apertured to provide orificesthrough which the gas issues to be burned. A main vaporizing orvolatilizing expansion tube 34, preferably of brass, is held on top ofthe burner 32 by a strap 35, one end of such tube carrying a threadedcollar 36, brazed or otherwise fixed thereon and affording an abutmentfor one member 37 of a divided valve-casing screwed on the threaded endof the tube. The outer end of such valve-casing member 37 is internallyscrew-threaded, and is adapted to accommodate the reduced threadedportion 38 of a coupling member'39, the latter having an annularshoulder 40 adapted, when the parts are properly screwed together, tobear against the casing 37. The outer end of the member 39 isconstructed for connection with a feed pipe 41 which will be connectedwith a fuel reservoir (not shown). The member 39 has a central valveport 42, and an annular,` slightly-beveled valve-seat 43. 'A sphericalvalve 44 fixed to or forming apart ofn non-expansible metal rod 45, isarranged centrally within the tube 34, the outer face of the valvehaving a nick or slot 46 for the application of a screw driver or othertool for the adjustment of The non-expansible metal of which rod 45is'composed is preferably of metal known as Invar.

The inner end of the vaporizing expansion tube 34 is screw-threaded intoan end wall of a hollow, cylindrical, cast-brass, combinedcarbon-collecting and supplementary liquid-volatilizing chamber 47, lafixed shoulder or collar 48 on the tube limitingV` its movement anddefinitely determining the length of exposed tube between the parts 37and 47. This secondary-vaporizing and sediment-arresting member 47 ispreferably substantially filled with loose shot, which act as acarbon-collecting medium and as a distributing core. At its top suchrelatively large shot-filled" chamber has a tubular extension 50 throughwhich the shot or other small particles may be inserted or removed, andon top of the part 5,0, or in any other suitable manner, is removablyfastened a deflector 51 which acts to direct the heat from some of theadjacent fiames downwardly upon the member 47 and to distribute the heatsubstantially-uniformly over its surface. ,l

A section of pipe 52 is secured to the burner by means of a clamp 53,theinner end of such pipe being threaded into the opposite end wall of thechamber 47 to an extent permitted by a shoulder 54. The tube 52, as isillustrated, is in alinement with the tube 34, and on its' outer end issecured a coupling' member 56, preferably a casting, definitelypositioned on the tube by a limiting collar or abutment 55. Thiscoupling member has a cavity 57 which communicates with a verticalpassage 58, the lat ter in turn communicating with ar lower horizontalpassage 59 having a gas discharge opening or outlet 60. The ends of thetwo intersecting passages 58 and 59 are closed as shown by screw plugs61 and 62.

64 is a tubular mixing chamber, supported beneath the burner andcommunicating with the interiorl of the same through an aperture 63, airbeing supplied through the opening or space 65 between the inlet 60 andthe open end of the mixing chamber 64.

A shallow pan 66 beneath the burner proper is adapted to hold asuiicient quantity of combustible fiuid to eect a preliminary heating ofthe burner and vaporizing j elements to establish the volatilization ofthe -liquid fuel for the permanent support of pling member 56, inalinement with the axis of the tubes 52 and 34. In order to secure andmaint-ain the proper relation between the spherical valve 44 and itscooperating valve seat 43, so that the expansive action of the tube 34,dueto the heat of a pair of normal flames at the two jet orifices 69located in close proximity te the sides of the tube, will open the valvean amount only suflicient to permit a feeding of the liquid fuel for themaintenance of a normal flame at the burner, all of the parts arescrewed home or brought against their coacting shoulders, with theexception of the pipe 41, and then by means of a screw driver fitted inthe socket 46 and projected through the member 38 the valve 44 and rod45 are turned backso as to bring the valve securely against the seat 43,in which position it can be tested to determine whether the Contact isproper and effective. When i such test indicates that the valve bearsproperly on its seat, a'hole is drilled through removal of the pinandthe uncoupling of the valve-casing. By this means assurance is giventhat if the valve member 39 is screwed up so that its shoulder 40engages the member 37, the port 42 will be completely closed by thevalve. 44 When the burner is Out of operation.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the several parts ofthe device are of such construction as to permit of their beingaccurately positioned and definitely set by the maker after proper test,and that after adjustment the device is 4automatic in its operation andincapable of being tampered with or put out of adjustment. Suchpreliminary test and adjustment having been made and the several partsbeing proportioned With reference to the expansibility of the member 34,together With the relatively small expansion of parts.

47 and 52, and the non-expansibility of the member 45, it is obviousthat during the normal operation of the burner the valve Will be open,due to the expansion of the tube'34, chamber 47 and tube 52 under theinfluence of the heat, and the ldegree of` opening may be absolutely.determined and maintainedbecause vthe valve itself is `located beyondand vso far removed'from the zone of vaporization or volatilizatio'nthat it Will not be clogged by a deposit of car'- bon in the valveopening. The liquid after passing the valve reaches and passes throughthe vaporizing tube 34, which, being heated, causes the volatilizationyof the liquid, the

' gas then passing into the carbon-collecting chamber 47 which also actsas a secondary or assistant-vaporizing member. This chamber having aWall of considerable thickness and being subjected to the deflected heatof the flanles of a portion ofthe burner tips, becomes heatedandelongated slightly 'as compared With the expansion of tube .34; andif any of the fuel agent or alcohol passes into such chamber 47 inliquid form its vaporization Will be completed therein, While the'particles of carbon Will bearrested and collected by the shot,.themovement of which When the burner is vmounted on a vehicle such as arailway car will prevent clogging, While the shot also acts tofractionate or break up the gas in its flow through the chamber.From-this chamber the -gas flows through thel tube 52 and passages 57and 58, issuing with considerable force "through the restricted orifice60,;thus preventing any flame or back burning at this point; It shouldVbe noticed that the' parts 34, 47 and 52 in combination form anexpansible vaporizing conduit, thev greater portion of the'vaporizationand expansion occurring in tube 34. The gas mingled with air entrainedor admitted at the open port 65, enters the mixing chamber 64 and isthoroughly mixed before it reaches the burner cavity. The passage of thegas and air through such chamber 64 is sufficiently rapid to preventmaintaining any burning or flame therein, so that it is impossible foraburner of this kind to burn back either at the orifice`60 or in themixing chamber. v

If for any reason the flameof the burner becomes extinguished, the tube34, chamber 47, and-tube52 Will contract, and the valve coming incontact With its seat Will shut off the supply of liquid fuel. Theheated chamber 47 acts in conjunction with the vaporizing expansion tube-34 to assist in the regulation of the flow of liquid. That is, it caresfor the slight irregularities in the action of the-valve 44. F orexample: If a slightly excess quantity of liquid passed/ the valvey 44,it Would be vaporized in the parts 34 and 47, creating a sufficientexcess pressure therein to tend to force back Gilt sol

the further flow of fuel through the valve.

governor as Well` as a carbon collector.

This chamber 47 being in cross' section considerably larger than thetubes34 and 52, vprovides adequate space for the collection andarresting of any carbon particles which may enter the same with the gas.

My apparatus, it- Willl be observed, dispenses. entirely With manuallyoperated valves. It Will be noted, also, that my automatic regulatingapparatus combines the Supply tube With the volatilizing chamber andthat this latter carries one member of the valve and thereforeconstitutes an esmounted upon a rod `which forms the cen- `tral core ofthe volatilizing chamber, the'y Whole constituting a valve-controlledpassage betvveenthe supply pipe and the burner.

In' the above I have referred tothe expansion of tube`34 as controllingthe opening and closing of the valve g' and in this connection it mightbe remarked that none .of the other parts of the burner are sufcientlyheated to affect the operation of the valve in any substantial ormaterlal delgree.-l Deflector 51 acts to equalize the heat imposed uponthe chamber1 47 consequently securing an eiicient and uniform vaporization of any of the fuel which may enter the compartment in liquid form,which could not result if the llames played directly `on this part.

I am aware that it vhas been proposed t0 control the admission, toregulate the supply and to cut off the iow of hydrocarbon fluid to avapor burner and that it is common to employ in such means athermostatic device, the thermostatic elements usually of two or moremembers having different coeiiicients of expansion, the regulation beingdue to this difference in the expansion of the elements. My invention isdistinguished by the fact that it involves a single thermostaticelement, to wit, the tube carrying a valve member, and the other valvemember is carried by a non-expansible rod so -that the valve membercarried by the rod after being adjusted to aord the requisite degree ofopening, when the expansible member is expanded to its limit, remainsfixed or stationary relative thereto. Thus the expansible member servesfirst to open the port to its widest extent when expanded to its limitand consequently maintains the valve in the open position during thenorm al action of the burner, and when the flame is extinguished rapidlycontracts, thus serving to out off entirely the supply. Thus a singlethermostatic element operates first as a valve opener, second as aregulator and third as a cut-ofi. The advantage of this constructionhaving a single expansible element over those having two or moreexpansible elements is that it is impossible, under practical conditionsof service, to first determine and then maintain regulation under thevariations of expansion occurring between the two related elements,while with a single expanding element its movement may. be calculatedand determined, and when the valve is once adjusted with referencethereto the regulation is not only automatic but it is reliable.

I claim:

1. In an alcohol burner, the combination l with aburner cap of means forfurnishing a uniform supply of combustible as to the burner to maintaina normal means comprising a supply pipe provided with a valve member, avaporizing tube cnnected with the supply pipe around the valve memberand arranged in proximity to the burner and composed of a metal having ahi h coefficient of expansion, a rod secured wlthin the tube andprovided with a valve member, said rod being composed of a materialwhich is Ynon-expansive, and said tube serving as a vaporizer, aconduitfor the generated gas and as athermostatic element, and inconnection with the valve member fixed in relation thereto and saidfirstmentioned valve member constituting the vsole means for admitting,regulating and shutting off thesupply of liquid fuel, and connectionsbetween the delivery end of said tube and the burner to deliver the gas,substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described,

ame, saidv the combination of a burner, a vaporizing expansion tubesubjected to the heat of the burner, a chamber member connected to saidtube and forming therewith a conduit for the passage of a fluid fuel forsaidburner, a distributing rod secured in said tube and chamber, andloose deposit-collector members in said chamber around said rod, andmeans controlled'by the relative expansion and contraction of saidconduit and rod to govern the flow of fuel through said conduit totheburner, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a burner,a vaporizing tube, a chambered member in connection with said tube andforming therewith a portion of the conduit subjected to the heat of theburner and acting as a passage forja iuid fuel for said burner, adistributing rod extended through said tube and chamber, loosedistributing members in said chamber surrounding said rod, and means tocontrol the flow of fuel through said tube and cham-i ber comprising amember with a valve-seat and'port, and a valve on said rod coperatingwith said seat, the lengths and coefcients of expansion of said tube androd being such that the valve and the valve-seat will be separated bythe expansion of the conduit due to anormal flame at the burner anamount sufficient only to maintain such normal flame at the burner,whereby said valve acts as a fluid regulator and as a safety shut-off,substantially as described.

4:. In a device of the character described, the combination of aburnerfa vaporizing expansion tube subjected to the heat of said burnerand adapted to form a passage for a fluid fuel for 4sa1d burner, adistributing rod arranged axially in said tube, means carried by `saidrod to control the flow of fuel through said tube, a chambered memberconnected to said tube, loose deposit-collecting members in saidchambered member, and

a deflector adapted to direct heat from said rod arranged in said tubeand chamber,

means carried by said rod to control the flow of fuel throu h saidconduit, and a deflector adapted to dlrect heat from said burner to,

said' chambered member, substantially as described.

6. ln a device of the character described, the combination of a burner,a chambered member subjected to the action of said burner, an expansiontube also subjected to the action of said burner, said chamber and isctube acting as a. conduit for a fuel to said and a valve on said rodcoperating withburner, a, shouldered connection between the port of saidValve member, substantially said tube and member a. shell, a shouldered'as described.

connection between sald shell and the op o- WILLIAM E. SHARP. 5 site endof said tube, a ported valve mem er Witnesses: having a shoulderedconnection .with said GEO. E. SNYDER,

shell, a distributing rod secured in said tube, J. C. STEvENsoN.

